Understanding Iowa and Nebraska Child Car Seat Laws 

Any time we drive or ride as a passenger in a vehicle, the possibility exists that an accident can occur. There are an estimated 6 million automobile accidents in the United States every year, with 3 million people becoming injured as a result. Thankfully, many lives are saved in these accidents because of seat belt laws.

Seat belt laws for adults are pretty straightforward, but when it comes to using proper vehicle restraints for children, many people only have a vague idea of the laws. Some of the most precious cargo you’ll ever transport are your littlest passengers. Before you head out on the road, here’s what you need to know about child car seat laws in Iowa and Nebraska.

In Iowa, all parents or an adult in charge of a child’s care, are responsible for ensuring that children are properly restrained in the appropriate car seat when traveling by automobile. In Iowa, child car seat laws state that:

• Children under the age of one year who weigh less than 20 lbs must be placed in a rear facing child restraint system.
  
• Children between the ages of one and six, must be placed in an appropriate safety seat or booster seat. At this age, a seat belt alone is not a safe or legal option.
  
• Children between the ages of six and eleven years of age must be placed in in a child restraint system or by a safety belt.
  
• All children under the age of 18 must use a seat belt while traveling in an automobile.

With car seat laws in Iowa, it’s important to note that while they don’t list specific height or weight guidelines for the type of restraint used, parents should speak with their physician or other qualified individual when deciding when to move their child from a rear facing to forward facing position, when to move them from a five point harness seat to a booster seat and when to move from booster to a seat belt alone.

Drivers who do not follow Iowa car seat laws, with a few noted exceptions, can be issued a misdemeanor fine. The laws apply to anyone driving in the state, regardless if they are a resident or not.

Car seat laws in Nebraska are a little more specific and include changes effective January 1, 2019. The new child restraint laws in Nebraska state that:

•  All children age eight or under must ride in a federally approved safety seat.
  
• Children age two and under will ride rear facing unless they’ve reached the upper rear facing weight limit for their specific seat.
  
• All children age eight and under must ride in the backseat except in specific circumstances.
  
• Children between the ages of eight and eighteen must be restrained in a booster seat or with a safety belt.
  
• All car seats must be appropriate for the child and federally approved.
  

If you are involved in accident with children in the vehicle, the most important thing to do is to seek emergency medical attention, even if it appears everyone is ok. Second, check with your car seat manufacture to determine if your car seat needs to be replaced.

Finally, if you’ve sustained injury at someone else’s fault, contact a personal injury lawyer to review your case. At Fitch & Stahle Law Office, we’re the car accident attorneys who can help you win your case. Contact us for a free consultation today.